Orange Blooded [4718]

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Posts: 3330

Joined: 11/18/05

It's time to face some realities

Nov 27, 2007, 10:16 AM

Reality is, this message board and most others, are made up of a large group of 15 - 25 yr olds that are very vocal about everything and post often and a large group of 35 - 50 yr olds that post sometimes and a group of older that post seldom and are vocal when they see something that piques their interest. There is also a large group of 30 and older that don't post at all, they simply come around to read/lurk/browse.

Looking at most of the profiles of those that are so vocal about our coaching staff, you can't help but notice that the overwhelming majority of them are in that group of 15 - 25 yr olds. (those that actually put grad years). What today's society has become is what this group has grown up in. The "I want it now" crowd. No patience, no paying dues, no building. It's all about instant gratification. It doesn't matter that other universities may have more of this or that, better this or that it's simply my school is the best and nothing else matters mentality.

When Tommy Bowden first arrived at Clemson, we all had some unrealistic expectations. His first responsibility was to assure our facilities were enough to compete with the other upper tier universities for the services of the top athletes. The bottom line is, we were far behind in that respect. After taking a few years to do this, coach Bowden started to get these top recruits. Not only recruits with outstanding athletic ability, but also the character and fortitude to assure we're not one of those schools like Texas or Carolina that we scoff and laugh at because of their arrest records and off-field incidents.

Our recruiting classes the last 3 yrs, since the facilities upgrade, have averaged 16th according to most sources. The very first of those recruiting classes will be seniors next year. So what we'll have is not only top athletes with character but those highly ranked recruits will become seniors and will be leaders on and off the field. I can't think of a better position to be in considering we're on track to have a top 10 recruiting class this coming year that will be learning from the best next season.

So here we are at the culmination of Tommy Bowden's rebuilding of the Clemson Tiger football program. I haven't been this excited about a season since the 80s as I am about 2008.

Many of you that are calling for change would do well to listen to those that are calling for patience. Tommy Bowden has paid his dues, rebuilt the house and now has this program ready to assume the role we played in the early 80s. We've just had the first 3 yr stretch of at least 8 wins since the late 80s to 91. How can you not see the progress?

The year we've all been waiting for for 16 yrs is nearly upon us. Savor the excitement we haven't experienced for a very long time. Moments like this don't come along too often for anyone.

That's the reality of where we Clemson Tigers are today.

Patience grasshopper.

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where the only reason we eventually won was because Ford had an entire second team sitting on the sidelines on schollies, and we just knew that at some point in the second half, the option would start to find big holes to run through to the outside? Anybody still remember when that all started to fail? When linebackers started coming out who were as fast as Terry Allen? When we played FSU and discovered the speed difference was not only apparent, but embarrassing? Remember that? I do. Man, do I remember that. Never again. Bowden took over a program that had been run into the ground under West (and who ever thought we'd name an endzone after the man?

) and after beginning the rebuilding process with some success, had Rodriguez get hired away. He then had to go through a period where he had to confront some staff hires that turned out to be questionable (anyone still remember O'Cain stating publicly that he didn't understand what Duke was doing, the year they beat us?) Finally, he's had the whole conference structure change. BAsically, Bowden geared the whole program up to beating FSU for a conference championship, and then had the conference up the ante by bringing in Miami, BC, and Virginia Tech. Think about it. Bowden has beaten FSU 5 of the last 6 times we've played them. BAsically, Bowden did exactly what he needed to do to get us to where we needed to be, and then had the goalposts get moved on him by the conference. And he's still been close to getting Clemson to a championship game the last three years. We're getting there. REally we are. How many times in Clemson's history have we had a quarterback redshirting because he currently isn't quite as good as the junior who is currently playing? (And I fully expect Korn to eclipse a lot of Harper's records, but for right now, I'm glad we're not sending a freshman out to run our offense). Hey, I'm excited! We even have a really outside chance at the Sugar Bowl this year.

It's time to face some realities

True, and only 1 man to crack a loud one in church to

5....4......3.....2.......1

specially on those all-wood pews. Makes a silent

It has been my experience that the hard wood and a one cheek

So many people forget this about Danny Ford'***

teams....they always managed to LOSE to someone they

Exactly, i was there too, and we never made it back to a

Oh man! Remember the Ford games against Virginia,

point just for the "Tommy West Zone" joke

27-0,48-0,42-21,55-0 are just some of the scores of...

Re: Oh man! Remember the Ford games against Virginia,

Dang, preach, I'm proud of what those teams accomplished...

I'm with you, bengal. The problem is the past is over

In 1977

In 1977

well, Clemson didn't send Pell packing. He left very

Re: well, Clemson didn't send Pell packing. He left very

ah, okay. I need another cup of coffee***

Big difference between leaving and run off***

R-U-N-O-F-T***

2001 and 2004

Agreed.***

Re: It's time to face some realities

what about those of us between 25 and 30?***

Amen!***

Well Spoken***

I've never been so excited about Clemson football either...

Best Post I've read in a long long time!***

So what happens if we get blown out in our bowl game?

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